PhD in Climate Resilience of Infrastructure to Heat

PGR-P-1393

Key facts

Type of research degree: PhD
Application deadline: Friday 30 April 2027
Project start date: Friday 1 October 2027
Country eligibility: International (open to all nationalities, including the UK)
Funding: Non-funded
Supervisors: Professor David Connolly
Schools: School of Civil Engineering
Research groups/institutes: Cities and Infrastructure

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Summary</h2>

Climate change presents an unprecedented challenge to global infrastructure, requiring engineering assets to adapt to increasingly intense and prolonged periods of extreme heat. This research theme focuses on enhancing the resilience and adaptation of civil engineering infrastructure to elevated temperatures and thermal stress. Core areas of investigation include the mitigation of road and highway rutting, the prevention of railway track buckling, and the management of thermal cracking in bridges and concrete structures. Additionally, the theme explores the systemic impacts of heat on ground engineering, specifically addressing soil desiccation and subsequent structural subsidence. Research within this theme can be tailored to your specific technical interests and academic background, allowing you to design a comprehensive project that addresses critical vulnerabilities in transport, geotechnical, and structural assets. By bridging materials science, thermal dynamics, and structural engineering, this theme aims to futureproof the built environment against a warming climate.

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Full description</h2>

<h3 data-path-to-node="7">Detailed Description</h3> The global increase in average temperatures and the rising frequency of extreme heatwaves pose a severe threat to structural safety and transport network reliability. Traditional civil engineering design codes historically relied on stationary climate assumptions that are no longer valid. When exposed to extreme heat, standard engineering materials behave in highly non linear ways that can accelerate degradation and trigger premature asset failure. This PhD research theme seeks to transform how we assess, design, and manage infrastructure under severe thermal loading. You will explore the mechanisms behind heat induced distress across multiple asset types. For flexible pavements, this involves analyzing the viscoelastic properties of asphalt to prevent permanent deformation like rutting. For railway networks, the focus is on understanding the thermal expansion of continuous welded rails to eliminate the catastrophic risk of track buckling. In structural concrete, the research examines how temperature gradients induce internal stresses, leading to thermal cracking and accelerated structural decline. Finally, from a geotechnical perspective, the theme investigates how prolonged heat drives soil moisture evaporation, causing severe desiccation cracks and ground subsidence that compromises building foundations. <h3 data-path-to-node="10">Why This Research is Important</h3> Infrastructure networks are the backbone of modern society, yet they are increasingly vulnerable to thermal disruption. When a railway line buckles or a major highway experiences severe rutting, the economic costs from delays, emergency repairs, and lost productivity are immense. Furthermore, thermal cracking in concrete bridges exposes internal reinforcement to moisture and chemical ingress, drastically reducing the service life of critical civic structures. This research theme is vital because it develops the predictive models, material adaptations, and asset management strategies needed to prevent these climate driven failures. By understanding the exact threshold where heat causes structural distress, engineers can implement proactive interventions. This work directly supports international efforts to build sustainable, climate resilient cities, ensuring that vital transport links and structural assets remain safe and operational even during extreme weather events. <h3 data-path-to-node="13">Example PhD Research Topics</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="14"> <li> Thermal stress modeling and buckling prevention strategies for continuous welded railway tracks </li> <li> Advanced material design to mitigate high temperature asphalt rutting on strategic highway networks </li> <li> Microstructural analysis of thermal cracking and degradation mechanisms in concrete bridges </li> <li> Geotechnical modeling of soil desiccation and foundation subsidence under prolonged heatwaves </li> <li> Development of predictive asset management frameworks for infrastructure exposed to extreme thermal cycles </li> <li> Evaluation of cooling coatings and heat dissipating materials for urban structural infrastructure </li> </ul> <h3 data-path-to-node="15">Methods and Techniques</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="16"> <li> Finite element analysis and numerical modeling of thermal stresses in structures </li> <li> Laboratory testing of asphalt, concrete, and soil properties under elevated temperatures </li> <li> Geotechnical centrifuge testing and moisture migration modeling for desiccated soils </li> <li> Field monitoring, thermal imaging, and remote sensing for asset temperature tracking </li> <li> Predictive analytics and machine learning for heat risk mapping across transport networks </li> <li> Constitutive modeling of temperature dependent material behavior </li> </ul> <h3 data-path-to-node="17">Suitable Academic Backgrounds</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="18"> <li> Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering </li> <li> Geotechnical Engineering or Engineering Geology </li> <li> Materials Science or Polymer Engineering </li> <li> Mechanical Engineering or Thermal Dynamics </li> <li> Applied Mathematics or Computational Physics </li> </ul> <h3 data-path-to-node="19">FAQ</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="20"> <li> Can I propose my own PhD topic? Yes, the themes above are a guide only. </li> <li> Can I bring my own funding? Yes, I welcome applicants who are funded through government scholarships, employers or self funding. </li> <li> Do I need funding before contacting you? You should have at least identified your planned funder and commenced your application. </li> <li> Can I study interdisciplinary topics? Yes. Many of my current research interests combine multiple disciplines. </li> <li> When can I start? Start dates are in spring and autumn. Full details dates are available elsewhere on the University website. </li> </ul> Useful links <ul> <li data-path-to-node="15,0,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/civil-engineering/staff/1204/prof-david-p-connolly" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">University Profile</a> </li> <li data-path-to-node="15,1,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidconnolly/" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">LinkedIn</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,2,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=jzkpu9IAAAAJ&hl=en" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Google Scholar</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,3,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Connolly-7" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">ResearchGate</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,4,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3950-8704" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">ORCID</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,5,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35098220800" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Scopus</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-path-to-node="15,5,0" style="margin-left:8px"> </li> </ul>

<h2 class="heading">How to apply</h2>

To apply for this project you will need to make a formal application for research degree study through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN. • For Application type please select Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate. • The admission year for this project is 2027/28 Academic Year. • You will need to select your Planned Course of Study from a drop-down menu. For this project, scroll down and select PHP Civil Engineering Full Time. • The project start date for this project is 1 October 2027, please use this as your Proposed Start Date of Research. • Please state clearly in the Research Information Section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is PhD in Climate Resilience of Infrastructure to Heat as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/civil-engineering/staff/1204/prof-david-p-connolly">Professor David Connolly</a> as your proposed supervisor. Please state clearly in the Finance section, the funding that you are applying for, if you are self-funding or externally sponsored. More information on how to apply is available on our website <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">here</a>. You will be required to provide a personal statement which outlines your interest in the project you are applying for, why you have chosen it and how your skills map onto the requirements of the project. We will assess applications continuously as we receive them. We welcome and strongly encourage any potential applicants to contact the supervisor(s) for an informal discussion, prior to applying, and recommend submitting your application early. If you are applying with external sponsorship or you are funding your own study, please ensure you provide your supporting documents at the point you submit your application: <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date including the grading scheme</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</li> </ul> If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below). As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">Entry requirements</h2>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">English language requirements</h2>

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<h2 class="heading">Funding on offer</h2>

This is a non funded PhD project. Applicants are expected to be self funded or to secure external funding. You can find out more about our Funding Opportunities on our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/">Postgraduate Research Opportunities</a> website. Important: Please note that all costs associated with your arrival at Leeds (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, Immigration Health Surcharge</a>, flights etc) would have to be met by yourself, or you will need to find an alternative funding source.

<h2 class="heading">Contact details</h2>

For further information about your application, please contact PGR Admissions by email to <a href="mailto:phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a> For further information about this project, please contact Professor David Connolly by email to <a href="mailto:D.Connolly@leeds.ac.uk">D.Connolly@leeds.ac.uk</a>